Dubai Aerospace Enterprise in talks for huge 400-jet order

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), one of the world’s largest aircraft lessors, is in talks to buy 400 jetliners from Airbus and Boeing and is prepared to expand its fleet through acquisition if talks fall through.

An order for 400 single-aisle jets would be worth more than $40 billion at list prices, though discounts are common for large orders.

A huge deal would give DAE a long-term pipeline of directly ordered aircraft on par with its rivals, though it may have to wait several years for deliveries to start because manufactures are heavily sold out.

The first Boeing 737 MAX 7 made its debut today at the company’s Renton, Wash. factory. Photo by Craig Larsen. (PRNewsfoto/Boeing)